Air Canada said on Tuesday it has asked for federal government intervention in contract talks with its flight attendants union, after the airline declared an impasse in the negotiations.

The Montreal-based airline, which transports about 130,000 customers a day, said the union representing flight attendants made a recent counteroffer seeking “exorbitant” pay increases, and has rejected an offer to enter third-party binding arbitration.

The union representing Air Canada's flight attendants has signalled that its members intend to go on strike this weekend, paving the way for workers to walk off the job as early as Saturday morning.